Schley County GaArchives Photo Group.....Sunday School Class-Ebenezer Baptist 1938 November 4, 1938
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Harris Hill http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002514 April 9, 2006, 8:47 pm

Source:             The Ellaville Sun  Friday, November 4 1938  No 18
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley/photos/sundaysc10237gph.jpg
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SUNDAY SCHOOL IS SWEPT BY REVIVAL
Ebenezer Sees Attendance Jump More Than 100%
A revival of an intensity long called for by members of all denominations has 
gripped the Sunday school of Ebenezer Baptist church in Schley county.

At a time when officers of most church schools count it well to hold the 
interest of those already enrolled, leaders of the Ebenezer department saw 
membership jump more than 100 percent--from 39 to 84--within a few weeks this 
spring.  And enthusiasm has mounted rather than lessening during the months 
that have followed.

Superintendent J.A. McGill, who worked with earnestness to stimulate interest 
in the revival long before it swept his community, explains the awakening 
thusly:

"It happened after we held a one week's study course last March.  I told our 
people that our Sunday school had failed because the Lord hadn't been with us, 
and that we ought to ask Him to come in and help us.  They got busy and went 
to praying........ "

But they didn't stop with praying.  A census was taken and it showed 95 
persons should be coming to Sunday school and steps were taken to urge them to 
join.  Within several weeks 45 of them--all but 11 of the non-attendants--had 
enrolled.

McGill found many did not attend because they lacked a way to come, so he 
offered to call for them each Sunday.  He still does it regardless of the 
weather--one day he brought in 14 persons on his tudor Ford car, many days he 
has 11.

Evidence of the revival is not limited to attendance, the warm smiling 
superintendent points out.  Last March less than a half dozen would pray in 
public.  Now 45 do.

"I really think it won't be long before everybody will," McGill declares with 
feeling.

McGill, who has been superintendent for three years, admits with regret that 
indifference by many people once left him so discouraged he dropped his 
efforts for two or three weeks.  That was during the summer of 1937.

"I went out to other Sunday schools but they didn't satisfy me.  All those two 
weeks I felt like I didn't have any sense ........... something seemed to be 
telling me, Go on, on ............... "

So he went back to work and has not doubted again.

Only four classes were held before the revival.  Six now are headed by the 
following teachers:  B.F. Allen, adult; Mrs. H.H. Johnson, young peoples; Mrs. 
Rufus Brown, intermediates; Mrs. J.A. McGill, juniors; Mrs. P.A. Kidd, 
beginners, and Mrs. John Owen, primary.  Mrs. J.B. Hutto is supply teacher.  
Miss Carolyn Stewart is secretary of the Sunday school.


Additional Comments:
PICTURE CAPTION
ENROLLMENT JUMPED 100 per cent at Ebenezer Baptist Sunday school within a few 
weeks and interest has been maintained.  Here are some of the members:  First 
row, left to right, Ray Allen, Martha Nell Stewart, Bubber Stewart, Vera 
Stewart, Eugenia Hutto, J.W. Hutto, Lee Allen, Olivia Ann Powell; second row, 
Gerald Johnson, Calvin Owen, Linah Hutto, Martha Kate Owen, Bill Brown, 
Kathleen Jones, Mae Stewart, Basal Hutto, Mary Hazel Powell, Supt. J.A. 
McGill; third row, Max Allen, Sara Powell, Berta Stewart, Lucile Park, Charles 
Stewart, Jewel Lightner, Delora Hutto; fourth row, Louise Kidd, Carolyn 
Stewart, Mrs. Rufus Brown, Edra Hutto, Mrs. John Owen, Ethel Johnson, Mary 
Lightner; fifth row, Mrs. Grady Stewart, Mrs. Addie Powell, Mrs. P.A. Kidd, 
Mrs. J.B. Hutto, J.L. Lightner, Mrs. J.A. McGill; Sixth row, Mrs. Allmon 
Powell, Rufus Brown, Mrs. H.H. Johnson, Mrs. Ross Park, B.F. Allen, Mrs. B.F. 
Allen, Mrs. Willie Stewart; seventh row, Ross Park, C.B. Barnes, John Owen, 
Melville Johnson, Robert Hadley, Allmon Powell, and Albert Kidd.  (Sun staff 
photo by Brenden Argo.)

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